A TRUE economic stimulus
 

Do the calculation yourself and you will find that the drop of gas
from $4.00 to now $1.85/gal will save the USA about $500 billion over
a year. This is real money, not some government sleight of hand
accounting or taking money from our great grandchildren. The real way
to stimulate the economy is obvious, DRILL NOW. Of course, the Dems
have no real interest in helping average Joe American, they just want
to concentrate power in their hands. The appointment of Clueless
Caroline is obvious evidence that their interests lie with the moneyed
elite class and they will ignore the good of the rest of us. They will
not approve new offshore drilling.

A TRUE economic stimulus
 

"Frogwatch" wrote in message
...
Do the calculation yourself and you will find that the drop of gas
from $4.00 to now $1.85/gal will save the USA about $500 billion over
a year. This is real money, not some government sleight of hand
accounting or taking money from our great grandchildren. The real way
to stimulate the economy is obvious, DRILL NOW. Of course, the Dems
have no real interest in helping average Joe American, they just want
to concentrate power in their hands. The appointment of Clueless
Caroline is obvious evidence that their interests lie with the moneyed
elite class and they will ignore the good of the rest of us. They will
not approve new offshore drilling.


When would the production from new drilling have a significant impact on the
price? I honestly don't know the answer, but I'm sure you have the number
handy.

And, prove that speculators wouldn't jack up the price of that new oil so it
was just as expensive as oil was a year ago.

A TRUE economic stimulus
 

JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
"Frogwatch" wrote in message
...
Do the calculation yourself and you will find that the drop of gas
from $4.00 to now $1.85/gal will save the USA about $500 billion over
a year. This is real money, not some government sleight of hand
accounting or taking money from our great grandchildren. The real way
to stimulate the economy is obvious, DRILL NOW. Of course, the Dems
have no real interest in helping average Joe American, they just want
to concentrate power in their hands. The appointment of Clueless
Caroline is obvious evidence that their interests lie with the moneyed
elite class and they will ignore the good of the rest of us. They will
not approve new offshore drilling.


When would the production from new drilling have a significant impact on the
price? I honestly don't know the answer, but I'm sure you have the number
handy.

And, prove that speculators wouldn't jack up the price of that new oil so it
was just as expensive as oil was a year ago.



You want to continue sending your money to the middle east?

A TRUE economic stimulus
 

On Tue, 20 Jan 2009 17:57:33 -0500, "JoeSpareBedroom"
wrote:

"Frogwatch" wrote in message
...
Do the calculation yourself and you will find that the drop of gas
from $4.00 to now $1.85/gal will save the USA about $500 billion over
a year. This is real money, not some government sleight of hand
accounting or taking money from our great grandchildren. The real way
to stimulate the economy is obvious, DRILL NOW. Of course, the Dems
have no real interest in helping average Joe American, they just want
to concentrate power in their hands. The appointment of Clueless
Caroline is obvious evidence that their interests lie with the moneyed
elite class and they will ignore the good of the rest of us. They will
not approve new offshore drilling.


When would the production from new drilling have a significant impact on the
price? I honestly don't know the answer, but I'm sure you have the number
handy.

And, prove that speculators wouldn't jack up the price of that new oil so it
was just as expensive as oil was a year ago.


Anyone with a brain knows that no matter when or where the crude would
be harvested, it'd make a several penny difference on pricing. Prices
are set by market makers and since any additional capacity generated
by the US would be an infintessimal percentage compared to world
supply/production, it'd make no difference. It's a red herring for
dolts.

What would affect gas prices is more refineries. The oil companies
don't want to build refineries (even tho' they've been ok'd) because
it'd take their ability to jack up prices on claim supply/demand
spikes. That's where they make $.

The other thing would be to restrict speculators (folks who don't
actually take delivery or own supply depots) to bid on the commodities
market.

That's what caused $4 gas, not supply/demand. Get an education
please.

A TRUE economic stimulus
 

On Tue, 20 Jan 2009 15:11:46 -0800, jps wrote:

On Tue, 20 Jan 2009 17:57:33 -0500, "JoeSpareBedroom"
wrote:

"Frogwatch" wrote in message
...
Do the calculation yourself and you will find that the drop of gas
from $4.00 to now $1.85/gal will save the USA about $500 billion over
a year. This is real money, not some government sleight of hand
accounting or taking money from our great grandchildren. The real way
to stimulate the economy is obvious, DRILL NOW. Of course, the Dems
have no real interest in helping average Joe American, they just want
to concentrate power in their hands. The appointment of Clueless
Caroline is obvious evidence that their interests lie with the moneyed
elite class and they will ignore the good of the rest of us. They will
not approve new offshore drilling.


When would the production from new drilling have a significant impact on the
price? I honestly don't know the answer, but I'm sure you have the number
handy.

And, prove that speculators wouldn't jack up the price of that new oil so it
was just as expensive as oil was a year ago.


Anyone with a brain knows that no matter when or where the crude would
be harvested, it'd make a several penny difference on pricing. Prices
are set by market makers and since any additional capacity generated
by the US would be an infintessimal percentage compared to world
supply/production, it'd make no difference. It's a red herring for
dolts.

What would affect gas prices is more refineries. The oil companies
don't want to build refineries (even tho' they've been ok'd) because
it'd take their ability to jack up prices on claim supply/demand
spikes. That's where they make $.

The other thing would be to restrict speculators (folks who don't
actually take delivery or own supply depots) to bid on the commodities
market.

That's what caused $4 gas, not supply/demand. Get an education
please.

Comments are directed towards Frogfart, not Doug.

A TRUE economic stimulus
 

"Eisboch" wrote in message
...

"jps" wrote in message
...


That's what caused $4 gas, not supply/demand. Get an education
please.

Please explain the drop from $140/barrel to $34/barrel when the demand
tanked.

Eisboch

There is no single reason, and you are fully aware of that fact.

Explain why the price took so long to tank after demand dropped.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/...n4707770.shtml

A TRUE economic stimulus
 

"JoeSpareBedroom" wrote in message
...
"Eisboch" wrote in message
...

"jps" wrote in message
...


That's what caused $4 gas, not supply/demand. Get an education
please.

Please explain the drop from $140/barrel to $34/barrel when the demand
tanked.

Eisboch

There is no single reason, and you are fully aware of that fact.

Explain why the price took so long to tank after demand dropped.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/...n4707770.shtml



The JimH theory?

Eisboch

A TRUE economic stimulus
 

On Tue, 20 Jan 2009 15:18:44 -0800 (PST),
wrote:

On Jan 20, 6:11*pm, jps wrote:
On Tue, 20 Jan 2009 17:57:33 -0500, "JoeSpareBedroom"





wrote:
"Frogwatch" wrote in message
...
Do the calculation yourself and you will find that the drop of gas
from $4.00 to now $1.85/gal will save the USA about $500 billion over
a year. *This is real money, not some government sleight of hand
accounting or taking money from our great grandchildren. *The real way
to stimulate the economy is obvious, DRILL NOW. *Of course, the Dems
have no real interest in helping average Joe American, they just want
to concentrate power in their hands. *The appointment of Clueless
Caroline is obvious evidence that their interests lie with the moneyed
elite class and they will ignore the good of the rest of us. They will
not approve new offshore drilling.

When would the production from new drilling have a significant impact on the
price? I honestly don't know the answer, but I'm sure you have the number
handy.

And, prove that speculators wouldn't jack up the price of that new oil so it
was just as expensive as oil was a year ago.

Anyone with a brain knows that no matter when or where the crude would
be harvested, it'd make a several penny difference on pricing.

Anyone with any brains knows your analysis is generally based more on
ideology than any known or provable facts... Pffffttt

Uh no, it's not. Go talk to an economist about why oil went to
$150/barrel while demand was going down and supply was going up.

You may also want to look up the definition of ideology.

A TRUE economic stimulus
 

On Tue, 20 Jan 2009 18:24:32 -0500, "Eisboch"
wrote:


"jps" wrote in message
.. .


That's what caused $4 gas, not supply/demand. Get an education
please.

Please explain the drop from $140/barrel to $34/barrel when the demand
tanked.

Eisboch

Concurrent with congress announcing that they were going to
investigate why oil prices were rising while demand was dropping and
supply was increasing.

That's not a commodity market. They were trading contracts as
investment instruments.

There were many investment banks and large funds investing in oil
futures that had no interest whatsoever in purchasing oil.

Do a little research and you'll find plenty of info...

A TRUE economic stimulus
 

"jps" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 20 Jan 2009 18:24:32 -0500, "Eisboch"
wrote:


"jps" wrote in message
. ..


That's what caused $4 gas, not supply/demand. Get an education
please.

Please explain the drop from $140/barrel to $34/barrel when the demand
tanked.

Eisboch

Concurrent with congress announcing that they were going to
investigate why oil prices were rising while demand was dropping and
supply was increasing.

That's not a commodity market. They were trading contracts as
investment instruments.

There were many investment banks and large funds investing in oil
futures that had no interest whatsoever in purchasing oil.

Do a little research and you'll find plenty of info...


If I recall correctly, Eisboch doesn't agree with that theory, even though
many experts in the oil business do.

A TRUE economic stimulus
 

Eisboch wrote:

"JoeSpareBedroom" wrote in message
...
"Eisboch" wrote in message
...

"jps" wrote in message
...


That's what caused $4 gas, not supply/demand. Get an education
please.

Please explain the drop from $140/barrel to $34/barrel when the
demand tanked.

Eisboch

There is no single reason, and you are fully aware of that fact.

Explain why the price took so long to tank after demand dropped.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/...n4707770.shtml



The JimH theory?

Eisboch

No, if that was correct, it would still be up at $4/gal.

I pity that poor marina. Next summer they will be selling gas at
$5/gal, while everyone else is selling it for $2.75. My guess is the
gas will turn into shellac before they sell any.

A TRUE economic stimulus
 

Eisboch wrote:

"jps" wrote in message
...


That's what caused $4 gas, not supply/demand. Get an education
please.

Please explain the drop from $140/barrel to $34/barrel when the demand
tanked.

Eisboch
The apparent unlimited supply of gasoline. The price of gas started down
the day after President Bush rescinded clintons off shore drilling ban.
When the apparent supply was severely limited under the ban the price
went up, when the apparent supply became unlimited without the ban the
price went down. Simple economic theory.

A TRUE economic stimulus
 

On Tue, 20 Jan 2009 19:12:55 -0500, "JoeSpareBedroom"
wrote:

"jps" wrote in message
.. .
On Tue, 20 Jan 2009 18:24:32 -0500, "Eisboch"
wrote:


"jps" wrote in message
...


That's what caused $4 gas, not supply/demand. Get an education
please.

Please explain the drop from $140/barrel to $34/barrel when the demand
tanked.

Eisboch

Concurrent with congress announcing that they were going to
investigate why oil prices were rising while demand was dropping and
supply was increasing.

That's not a commodity market. They were trading contracts as
investment instruments.

There were many investment banks and large funds investing in oil
futures that had no interest whatsoever in purchasing oil.

Do a little research and you'll find plenty of info...


If I recall correctly, Eisboch doesn't agree with that theory, even though
many experts in the oil business do.

It's the only real-world explanation there is. Oil prices became
unhitched from supply/demand and the only way that happens is when
participants are speculating.

THey now know that huge institutional buyers were buying contracts as
if they were stocks. They had no interest in holding the millions of
barrels of oil they were buying.

A TRUE economic stimulus
 

On Tue, 20 Jan 2009 19:20:35 -0500, Keith nuttle
wrote:

Eisboch wrote:

"jps" wrote in message
...


That's what caused $4 gas, not supply/demand. Get an education
please.

Please explain the drop from $140/barrel to $34/barrel when the demand
tanked.

Eisboch
The apparent unlimited supply of gasoline. The price of gas started down
the day after President Bush rescinded clintons off shore drilling ban.
When the apparent supply was severely limited under the ban the price
went up, when the apparent supply became unlimited without the ban the
price went down. Simple economic theory.

Then why were oil prices spiking last summer even as demand had
dropped and supplies were rapidly climbing?

Speculation, and it wasn't the people who store or refine who were
doing it.

A TRUE economic stimulus
 

On Tue, 20 Jan 2009 18:24:32 -0500, "Eisboch"
wrote:


"jps" wrote in message
.. .


That's what caused $4 gas, not supply/demand. Get an education
please.

Please explain the drop from $140/barrel to $34/barrel when the demand
tanked.

Pure speculative bubble burst by the absence of free money with which
to speculate.

--

"All right everyone, line up alphabetically according to
your height."

Casey Stengel

A TRUE economic stimulus
 

Eisboch wrote:

"JoeSpareBedroom" wrote in message
...
"Eisboch" wrote in message
...

"jps" wrote in message
...


That's what caused $4 gas, not supply/demand. Get an education
please.

Please explain the drop from $140/barrel to $34/barrel when the
demand tanked.

Eisboch

There is no single reason, and you are fully aware of that fact.

Explain why the price took so long to tank after demand dropped.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/...n4707770.shtml



The JimH theory?

Eisboch

On a large scale, it would be true. At a marina - notsomuch.

A TRUE economic stimulus
 

"JoeSpareBedroom" wrote in message
...
"jps" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 20 Jan 2009 18:24:32 -0500, "Eisboch"
wrote:


"jps" wrote in message
...


That's what caused $4 gas, not supply/demand. Get an education
please.

Please explain the drop from $140/barrel to $34/barrel when the demand
tanked.

Eisboch

Concurrent with congress announcing that they were going to
investigate why oil prices were rising while demand was dropping and
supply was increasing.

That's not a commodity market. They were trading contracts as
investment instruments.

There were many investment banks and large funds investing in oil
futures that had no interest whatsoever in purchasing oil.

Do a little research and you'll find plenty of info...


If I recall correctly, Eisboch doesn't agree with that theory, even though
many experts in the oil business do.


I don't doubt for a minute that investment speculation drove the price up.
But the reason it became of interest to the speculators was still
fundamentally based in supply/demand.

It's like a huge, high gain servo system out of wack.. A small change in
input causes a much bigger change in output.

Eisboch

A TRUE economic stimulus
 

On Tue, 20 Jan 2009 19:59:00 -0500, "Eisboch"
wrote:

I don't doubt for a minute that investment speculation drove the price up.
But the reason it became of interest to the speculators was still
fundamentally based in supply/demand.

I disagree.

Supply wasn't an issue - there was so much oil flooding the market
that they had (and still have) oil floating out and about on tankers
just waiting for some place to put it. Demand wasn't an issue either
- did you have lines waiting for gas even after Katrina?

No.

It was pure speculation. Money cost next to nothing and when you
could place a bet on oil going up due to market psychology with money
that cost you nothing and make 150% in a week on that bet everybody
wanted in on it further driving the price up - it was a classic tulip
bulb bubble.

Consider that you could have a rise in the per/bbl cost of oil if
there was fog in the Houston Ship Channel. I don't know about you,
but I doubt there is ever a day when there isn't fog in the Houston
Ship Channel - or so I've been told. And we're talking $5/bbl rises
here - that's speculation. Somebody sneezes in Iran, the price goes
up another $5/bbl - that's speculation. Goldman Sachs, who clears all
the oil trades in the world by the way, publishes a report saying that
demand will drive up the price to $150/bbl and damned if the traders
didn't try to get there.

It's not coincidence that when the capital markets started drying up
and the hedge money market funds started losing money that the price
of oil suddenly and dramatically dropped a full 2/3's of it's value.

It wasn't demand, it was pure speculation.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it. :)

--

Math illiteracy affects 8 out of every 5 people.

A TRUE economic stimulus
 

"Wizard of Woodstock" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 20 Jan 2009 19:59:00 -0500, "Eisboch"
wrote:

I don't doubt for a minute that investment speculation drove the price up.
But the reason it became of interest to the speculators was still
fundamentally based in supply/demand.

I disagree.

Supply wasn't an issue - there was so much oil flooding the market
that they had (and still have) oil floating out and about on tankers
just waiting for some place to put it. Demand wasn't an issue either
- did you have lines waiting for gas even after Katrina?

No.

It was pure speculation. Money cost next to nothing and when you
could place a bet on oil going up due to market psychology with money
that cost you nothing and make 150% in a week on that bet everybody
wanted in on it further driving the price up - it was a classic tulip
bulb bubble.

Consider that you could have a rise in the per/bbl cost of oil if
there was fog in the Houston Ship Channel. I don't know about you,
but I doubt there is ever a day when there isn't fog in the Houston
Ship Channel - or so I've been told. And we're talking $5/bbl rises
here - that's speculation. Somebody sneezes in Iran, the price goes
up another $5/bbl - that's speculation. Goldman Sachs, who clears all
the oil trades in the world by the way, publishes a report saying that
demand will drive up the price to $150/bbl and damned if the traders
didn't try to get there.

It's not coincidence that when the capital markets started drying up
and the hedge money market funds started losing money that the price
of oil suddenly and dramatically dropped a full 2/3's of it's value.

It wasn't demand, it was pure speculation.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it. :)


And the clearinghouse sees all that trading as a big fat cash cow, even if
they're making peanuts per trade. I know this next idea will seem insane,
but I wonder if a clearinghouse might be able to exert pressure to make sure
the government doesn't look too closely at this scheme.

A TRUE economic stimulus
 

jps wrote:
On Tue, 20 Jan 2009 19:20:35 -0500, Keith nuttle
wrote:

Eisboch wrote:
"jps" wrote in message
...

That's what caused $4 gas, not supply/demand. Get an education
please.
Please explain the drop from $140/barrel to $34/barrel when the demand
tanked.

Eisboch
The apparent unlimited supply of gasoline. The price of gas started down
the day after President Bush rescinded clintons off shore drilling ban.
When the apparent supply was severely limited under the ban the price
went up, when the apparent supply became unlimited without the ban the
price went down. Simple economic theory.

Then why were oil prices spiking last summer even as demand had
dropped and supplies were rapidly climbing?

Speculation, and it wasn't the people who store or refine who were
doing it.

Why aren't people speculating now?

A TRUE economic stimulus
 

"BAR" wrote in message
...
jps wrote:
On Tue, 20 Jan 2009 19:20:35 -0500, Keith nuttle
wrote:

Eisboch wrote:
"jps" wrote in message
...

That's what caused $4 gas, not supply/demand. Get an education
please.
Please explain the drop from $140/barrel to $34/barrel when the demand
tanked.

Eisboch
The apparent unlimited supply of gasoline. The price of gas started down
the day after President Bush rescinded clintons off shore drilling ban.
When the apparent supply was severely limited under the ban the price
went up, when the apparent supply became unlimited without the ban the
price went down. Simple economic theory.

Then why were oil prices spiking last summer even as demand had
dropped and supplies were rapidly climbing?

Speculation, and it wasn't the people who store or refine who were
doing it.

Why aren't people speculating now?


If it really has slowed down, it could be due to lack of funds for margin
trading.

A TRUE economic stimulus
 

On Tue, 20 Jan 2009 20:51:24 -0500, "JoeSpareBedroom"
wrote:

"Wizard of Woodstock" wrote in message
.. .
On Tue, 20 Jan 2009 19:59:00 -0500, "Eisboch"
wrote:

I don't doubt for a minute that investment speculation drove the price up.
But the reason it became of interest to the speculators was still
fundamentally based in supply/demand.

I disagree.

Supply wasn't an issue - there was so much oil flooding the market
that they had (and still have) oil floating out and about on tankers
just waiting for some place to put it. Demand wasn't an issue either
- did you have lines waiting for gas even after Katrina?

No.

It was pure speculation. Money cost next to nothing and when you
could place a bet on oil going up due to market psychology with money
that cost you nothing and make 150% in a week on that bet everybody
wanted in on it further driving the price up - it was a classic tulip
bulb bubble.

Consider that you could have a rise in the per/bbl cost of oil if
there was fog in the Houston Ship Channel. I don't know about you,
but I doubt there is ever a day when there isn't fog in the Houston
Ship Channel - or so I've been told. And we're talking $5/bbl rises
here - that's speculation. Somebody sneezes in Iran, the price goes
up another $5/bbl - that's speculation. Goldman Sachs, who clears all
the oil trades in the world by the way, publishes a report saying that
demand will drive up the price to $150/bbl and damned if the traders
didn't try to get there.

It's not coincidence that when the capital markets started drying up
and the hedge money market funds started losing money that the price
of oil suddenly and dramatically dropped a full 2/3's of it's value.

It wasn't demand, it was pure speculation.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it. :)


And the clearinghouse sees all that trading as a big fat cash cow, even if
they're making peanuts per trade. I know this next idea will seem insane,
but I wonder if a clearinghouse might be able to exert pressure to make sure
the government doesn't look too closely at this scheme.

Actually it wasn't peanuts - it was a fairly substantial piece of GS's
business model - they had both sides of the trade including the margin
loans.

Had traders coming, going and everywhere in between.

And that doesn't include their own trading and analysis desks.

When the history of this bubble is written, it's going to have GS's
name all over it.

--

"Far better it is to dare mighty things,
to win glorious triumphs even though
checkered by failure, than to rank with
those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor
suffer much because they live in the gray
twilight that knows neither victory nor
defeat."

Theodore Roosevelt

A TRUE economic stimulus
 

On Tue, 20 Jan 2009 21:06:13 -0500, BAR wrote:

jps wrote:
On Tue, 20 Jan 2009 19:20:35 -0500, Keith nuttle
wrote:

Eisboch wrote:
"jps" wrote in message
...

That's what caused $4 gas, not supply/demand. Get an education
please.
Please explain the drop from $140/barrel to $34/barrel when the demand
tanked.

Eisboch
The apparent unlimited supply of gasoline. The price of gas started down
the day after President Bush rescinded clintons off shore drilling ban.
When the apparent supply was severely limited under the ban the price
went up, when the apparent supply became unlimited without the ban the
price went down. Simple economic theory.

Then why were oil prices spiking last summer even as demand had
dropped and supplies were rapidly climbing?

Speculation, and it wasn't the people who store or refine who were
doing it.

Why aren't people speculating now?

Ever heard the term bubble?

Did folks continue to invest in .coms after the bubble burst?

Are people rushing into the landholding business right now?

Think there's a lot of liquidity out there for investing?

A TRUE economic stimulus
 

On Wed, 21 Jan 2009 00:39:31 GMT, Wizard of Woodstock
wrote:

On Tue, 20 Jan 2009 18:24:32 -0500, "Eisboch"
wrote:


"jps" wrote in message
. ..


That's what caused $4 gas, not supply/demand. Get an education
please.

Please explain the drop from $140/barrel to $34/barrel when the demand
tanked.

Pure speculative bubble burst by the absence of free money with which
to speculate.

Hooray! Are you listening Eisboch? Thanks Tom.

A TRUE economic stimulus
 

jps wrote:
On Wed, 21 Jan 2009 00:39:31 GMT, Wizard of Woodstock
wrote:

On Tue, 20 Jan 2009 18:24:32 -0500, "Eisboch"
wrote:

"jps" wrote in message
...

That's what caused $4 gas, not supply/demand. Get an education
please.
Please explain the drop from $140/barrel to $34/barrel when the demand
tanked.
Pure speculative bubble burst by the absence of free money with which
to speculate.

Hooray! Are you listening Eisboch? Thanks Tom.


When I stopped by the bank Saturday, I think the mortgage rate
chalkboard said standard second trust mortgages could be had for a 4.1%
fixed rate. Anyone dumb enough to still have confidence in the stock,
commodity or futures markets could take out a big second trust and
speculate to their heart's content.

A TRUE economic stimulus
 

jps wrote:
On Tue, 20 Jan 2009 21:06:13 -0500, BAR wrote:

jps wrote:
On Tue, 20 Jan 2009 19:20:35 -0500, Keith nuttle
wrote:

Eisboch wrote:
"jps" wrote in message
...

That's what caused $4 gas, not supply/demand. Get an education
please.
Please explain the drop from $140/barrel to $34/barrel when the demand
tanked.

Eisboch
The apparent unlimited supply of gasoline. The price of gas started down
the day after President Bush rescinded clintons off shore drilling ban.
When the apparent supply was severely limited under the ban the price
went up, when the apparent supply became unlimited without the ban the
price went down. Simple economic theory.
Then why were oil prices spiking last summer even as demand had
dropped and supplies were rapidly climbing?

Speculation, and it wasn't the people who store or refine who were
doing it.
Why aren't people speculating now?

Ever heard the term bubble?

I remember when the Internet bubble started to burst, December 1999, and
when it fully burst March 2000.

Did folks continue to invest in .coms after the bubble burst?

Yes they did and they still do.

Are people rushing into the landholding business right now?

The smart ones are. Real estate is cheap right now.

Think there's a lot of liquidity out there for investing?

Depends upon what you are invested in.